Akademik-Cherskiy

The “Akademik Chersykiy” which had worked on the controversial Nordstream 2 gas pipeline off Rügen, berthed at the HDW dock in Kiel on Aug 23, 2021, preparing for new tasks. After laying and welding the last pipe segments, the "Akademik Cherskiy" set course for Kiel, accompanied by tugs, and docked in the late afternoon. Parts of the auxiliary devices attached to the fuselage for the pipeline work have to be dismantled again. Only then can the ship proceed to the next pipe-laying job. In the next few days, the attachments will be removed, and the 30 meter long drain ramp at the stern will be dismantled. German report and photos: https://www.kn-online.de/Kiel/Nordstream-Schiff-beendet-Arbeiten-und-steuert-Hafen-Kiel-an https://forum-schiff.de/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1377&start=10

The Nord Stream 2 undersea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is 99% complete, the pipeline operator said on July 28, after the 'Akademik Cherskiy' finished its initially planned workload. The $11 billion Nord Stream 2 is designed to bypass Russia’s political foe Ukraine and double the capacity of the existing Nord Stream pipeline to 110 billion cubic metres per year. The pipelay barge 'Fortuna' was currently continuing work on the remaining part of the pipeline.

Pipeline company Nord Stream 2 AG confirmed on July 19 that the 'Akademik Cherskiy' was preparing to operate in German waters, putting the gas pipeline network one step closer to completion. The German Waterway and Shipping authority issued a notice to mariners on July 18 that pipelaying vessel Akademic Cherskiy was preparing work in the German territorial waters. The pipelay vessel will lay a 2.6-km section of the second line of the pipeline in the German Exclusive Economic Zone. Vessels are called on to maintain a distance of 2.3 nautical km away from the vessel, though support vehicles are exempt from the restriction. Anchoring and fishing near the 'Akademik Cherskiy' are prohibited. Germany is at the receiving end of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will deliver up to 55bn m3/year of Russian natural gas to Europe through the Baltic Sea at full capacity. The announcement followed a meeting last week between US president Joe Biden and German chancellor Angela Merkel. The US is opposed to the network, claiming it undermines European energy security. Merkel, however, said her focus is on Ukraine, which could see a slump in gas transit revenues because of Nord Stream 2. Some test operations in preparation of gas deliveries to Germany were completed in June. The first of the two Nord Stream 2 strings – each can carry 27.5bn m³/yr – is ready for filling with gas. The full network could be completed by August.